Seimas speaker under criticism of former party leader

Monday, October 12, 2015

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Seimas speaker under criticism of former party leader

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MEP Viktor Uspaskich, the founder and de facto leader of Lithuania's Labour Party, has criticized fellow party member Loreta Graužinienė, the speaker of the Lithuanian parliament, for her "passivity", warning that "life does not end in the Seimas speaker chair" in reference to Graužinienė's future political prospects.

In an interview published on alfa.lt, Uspaskich, who is still believed to be the deciding voice in the Labour Party, has said Graužinienė is not doing enough to make the parliament's voice matter in national politics.

"I'd like to think that, in a parliamentary democracy, the Seimas [parliament] should play the leading role, especially the parliament speaker. And if she shows no initiative, it's sad," Uspaskich said.

He also suggested that Graužinienė's alleged passivity was due to her desire to avoid confrontation with President Dalia Grybauskaitė.

"It's a pity, if passivity rises from wanting to be on good terms with someone, not to offend. One must realize that life does not end in the Seimas speaker chair, there's life after that and one must keep showing oneself, one's face, one's character, to, finally, represent the Lithuanian people and voters," Uspaskich said.

According to alfa.lt, there are talks that Graužinienė, whose party has been on relatively confrontational terms with the president and has been on trial for bookkeeping fraud, might be seeking the appointment to the European Court of Auditors in Luxembourg.